May 1969

UK single release: The Ballad Of John And Yoko

The Beatles' second UK single of 1969, The Ballad Of John And Yoko, was released on this day. The b-side was George Harrison's Old Brown Shoe.

Mixing, master compilation: Let It Be, Get Back album

Studio One, Olympic Sound Studios, London Producer: George Martin Engineer: Glyn Johns This session saw the creation of a stereo mix for the song Let It Be, and the compilation of the master tape for Glyn Johns' unreleased Get Back album.

John and Yoko's second bed-in for peace: Montreal

Following their seven-day bed-in for peace at the Amsterdam Hilton in March 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono held a second, similar event at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada.

US album release: Unfinished Music No.2: Life With The Lions by John Lennon and Yoko Ono

The Beatles' experimental label Zapple Records was launched in the US on this day, with the release of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Unfinished Music No 2: Life With The Lions.

US album release: Electronic Sound by George Harrison

The Beatles' experimental label Zapple Records was launched in the US on this day, with the release of two albums: George Harrison's Electronic Sound and John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Unfinished Music No 2: Life With The Lions.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono fly from Barbados to Toronto

John Lennon and Yoko Ono had flown from London to Barbados on the previous day, hoping to hold their second bed-in for peace at the Sheraton Oceanus Hotel in Freeport.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono fly to Barbados

John Lennon and Yoko Ono flew from London to Barbados on this day, hoping to hold their second bed-in for peace.

Ringo Starr flies from New York to the Bahamas

On 16 May 1969, Ringo Starr, his wife Maureen and various members of the cast and crew of the film The Magic Christian set sail for New York on board the Queen Elizabeth 2 luxury liner. On this day they docked in New York.

Paul and Linda McCartney holiday in Corfu

Paul McCartney, his wife Linda McCartney and her daughter Heather flew to Corfu on this day for a holiday.

Ringo Starr sets sail for New York on board the QE2

Ringo Starr and his wife Maureen Starkey were among travellers on board the recently-launched ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2, heading to New York from Southampton.

Radio: Paul McCartney is interviewed for BBC Radio Merseyside's Light And Local

A day before he and Linda flew to Corfu for a holiday, Paul McCartney gave an interview to the BBC Radio Merseyside programme Light And Local. The interview took place at Rembrandt, the house McCartney had bought for his father Jim in 1964. The detached house, on Baskervyle Road, Heswall, Cheshire, had cost £8,750. McCartney... Read more »

George Harrison performs on a Jack Bruce session

Morgan Studios, London Producer: Felix Pappalardi George Harrison had previously written the song Badge with Eric Clapton and recorded it with Cream in 1968. When Cream split, however, he remained on good terms with all the former members.

Paul McCartney performs on Steve Miller's My Dark Hour

Olympic Sound Studios, London Producers: Glyn Johns, Steve Miller The Beatles' earlier mixing session at Olympic had ended in acrimony when John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr had attempted to persuade Paul McCartney to sign a contract to officially appoint Klein as Apple's financial manager. The other three Beatles had signed the contract on... Read more »

Mixing: Get Back album inserts

Studio One, Olympic Sound Studios, London Producer: George Martin Engineer: Glyn Johns This was the second stereo mixing session for the insertion of speech and song snippets into Glyn Johns' unreleased Get Back album.

UK album release: Unfinished Music No.2: Life With The Lions by John Lennon and Yoko Ono

The Beatles' experimental label Zapple Records was launched on this day, with the UK release of two albums: John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Unfinished Music No 2: Life With The Lions, and George Harrison's Electronic Sound.

UK album release: Electronic Sound by George Harrison

The Beatles' experimental label Zapple Records was launched on this day, with the UK release of two albums: George Harrison's Electronic Sound and John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Unfinished Music No 2: Life With The Lions.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono are interviewed for the BBC's Scene And Heard

John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave an interview on this day to David Wigg for the BBC Radio 1 show Scene And Heard.

Mixing: Get Back album inserts

Studio One, Olympic Sound Studios, London Producer: George Martin Engineer: Glyn Johns This 8pm-7.30am stereo mixing session saw work continue on Glyn Johns' unreleased Get Back album.

Recording, mixing: You Never Give Me Your Money

Studio One, Olympic Sound Studios, London Producer: George Martin Engineer: Glyn Johns Thus far, all the Abbey Road songs recorded had previously been debuted during the Get Back/Let It Be sessions in January 1969. That changed on this day with the recording of a new song, Paul McCartney's You Never Give Me Your Money.

Recording: Something

Studio One, Olympic Sound Studios, London Producer: George Martin Engineer: Glyn Johns This was the first of four consecutive Beatles recording sessions at Olympic Sound Studios in Barnes, London, and saw work continue on George Harrison's song Something.